Places like this are what's contributing to overcrowding in western hunting states. $7k a year plus that hassle getting permission from every swinging Richard on where I can walk vs buying a $1k CO tag and loading up the truck to go hunt beautiful scenery and as long as the animal is legal, fire away.

I love seeing big giant bucks, but if that's the main focus then it takes any fun out of hunting. I hope places like this go away sooner rather than later, but seems to be no shortage of fools with money.

Lot of truth in this one. I am a western guide and I have converted probably 30% of my TX clients to being western only hunting. 5-10 days chasing elk with a few buddies and good guide is 1000x more fun than a lot of lease hunting sitting over the same 1 or 2 feeders.

I'm not going to insult this group's way of doing things, but me personally, I can't imagine how anyone could enjoy themselves on a lease like this. The CONSTANT walking on egg shells would make it unbearable.

And I guess I just don't understand why you have to take that approach with other grown men who obviously know what they're doing. The lease I am on in San Angelo is similarly sized and we have 15 lease members from all over the state, from all different walks of life (surgeons, lawyers, pilots, contractors, retirees, etc.) and most of the excitement in making the trek out to San Angelo is just spending time with these guys and cocktailing by the campfire. Everyone has their own key to the place and everyone has their own designated blind, but no one cares if someone shoots out of someone else's if they're not there. In over 12 years, there has never been a single instance I can remember of someone running afoul of game laws or doing something that the rest of us would frown upon. Everyone else respects everyone else's use and privilege of the lease (although we did have an old, drunk guest fall into the campfire once, but that's a different story…). I can't imagine ever getting a text message from one of the other guys telling us not to shoot a certain deer cause he saw it first…give me a break (although I'm sure none of us would if we knew another one of us had been after it for awhile).

To each his own, but I would think our approach would be much better suited to get new hunters into the game than the Slator Ranch's approach. Can y'all imagine what it would be like sitting next to Brad at the campfire? "SIT UP STRAIGHT!" Geez.

gotsand said:

---

Oops I'll delete my post. Whoever copied me should, too. Fair is fair.

---

Even if the link you posted wasn't this specific place, it does sound like this "lease" is the perfect setup to charge hunters premium lease rates to do the culling so that they can sell the real trophies in guided management hunts. Having to ask permission to come hunt gives them a chance to make sure they don't have a paying client already scheduled to hunt out of your blind and shoot the 12 pointer you requested permission to shoot. Not my cup of tea, but maybe it works for others.

Our place in Webb Co shares a fence with the Callaghan Ranch, and these rules sound a lot like theirs.

Not sure this set up is all that unusual. Hear similar things about the Junco as well. It's just not my cup but of tea.

If you don't like it, don't apply. To each ranch, their own.

That was my take. The way it's set up it sounds like the guys on the lease are paying all the money and doing all the work so the ranch and management prosper.

That's nuts and I can't believe people actually pay to be subjected to that.

I will also add that a 140" 7.5 year old should not be considered a trophy in Webb county.

(Just my opinion based on my experience hunting many years in Webb, I'm no wildlife biologist).

My first thought is that with two openings, they just kicked two people off the lease this past season.

So maybe one of them wasn't compliant with the protein mandate....or maybe shot a nice buck without permission and some guy with a blind a half mile away claims he was watching that one first.....or maybe someone shot a deer and the Chads or Brads or whoever said it was the jawbone of a 6.5 yr old deer and not a 7.5 year old deer, as if they have the innate ability to accurately age a deer by a jawbone, which isn't easy and isn't often as accurate as many believe, particularly when you are splitting hairs on age toward the tail end of a deer's life span.....

So you paid over 7K all in, put in a **** ton of work and some chode decides your deer was a year too young, or your protein was dry for a week or you didn't have permission to shoot someone else's deer that they had dibs on.....

After all the entertainment I've gotten from this thread I have one thought. I agree with most that the rules seem very rigid and restrictive. Wouldn't be for me. However, they lay everything out in a very detailed manner so you know exactly what you're getting into.

DargelSkout said:

---

I will also add that a 140" 7.5 year old should not be considered a trophy in Webb county.

(Just my opinion based on my experience hunting many years in Webb, I'm no wildlife biologist).

---

No doubt. Completely agree.

I imagine the rules are just the tip of the iceberg.

AgLA06 said:

---

I imagine the rules are just the tip of the iceberg.

---

I don't imagine it to be a very fun camp where you look forward to going and relaxing with the guys around the campfire.

RCR06 said:

---

After all the entertainment I've gotten from this thread I have one thought. I agree with most that the rules seem very rigid and restrictive. Wouldn't be for me. However, they lay everything out in a very detailed manner so you know exactly what you're getting into.

---

There is almost guaranteed to be a bunch of other BS going on that they didn't write down. My guess is selling hunts and nonsensical "camp rules/customs".

JHShipley said:

---

DargelSkout said:

---

I will also add that a 140" 7.5 year old should not be considered a trophy in Webb county.

(Just my opinion based on my experience hunting many years in Webb, I'm no wildlife biologist).

---

No doubt. Completely agree.

---

Not a wildlife biologist either, but I have hunted Webb County over 25 years and I also would not consider a 140 a trophy at any age.

They are saying the opposite of what you think. They are saying 140 is not an extraordinary deer to see in that area.

This was great entertainment, thanks to all who contributed. Good luck OP.

Welcome rookie OP to Texags……..just think you actually paid for this subscription….

Now this is how you outsource a protein bill

There is almost a 100% chance the oligarchy on this lease hunt for free off the backs of the suckers.

txags92 said:

---

They are saying the opposite of what you think. They are saying 140 is not an extraordinary deer to see in that area.

---

From the rules: Any buck scoring 140" or more is your trophy.

Pretty clear.

What I'm saying is every 10 point that gets to 7.5 in that area should be 140+. That doesn't make it a trophy though.

Ha well if anybody wants a west Texas lease that isn't run like a parole review board then I still have mine available

OP.... crickets....

I want to know how the duck hunting works with everyone standing under their own deer blind? When you quail hunt does everyone walk around on their parcel then meet at the end of the day? I have more questions but I think op is hoping this dies. Rather bold to post again in all honestly after last time. I wish it was a masterfully orchestrated double troll with these dudes laughing their assess off at us, but I think not.

Will a window sticker come from this thread!

drred4 said:

---

Will a window sticker come from this thread!

---

Brad, Jerry and Mitch approved

Rules on our ranch……

1. Don't shoot anyone.

2. Leave all gates how you found them.

3. Manage the herd as best you can.

4. Have fun. That's what getting outdoors is all about.

5. Just in case you aren't very smart, if you do anything that anyone with common sense would know is not right, then you will receive a tongue lashing at minimum and could be removed depending on severity. We are all adults and either trust each other or not to have a bunch of dumb rules.